A34674:222
The Covenant of Grace
The covenant of grace discovering the great work of a sinners reconciliation to God / by John Cotton ... ; whereunto are added Certain queries tending to accommodation [sic] between the Presbyterian and Congregational churches ; also a discussion of the civill magistrates power in matters of religion ; by the same author.The covenant of grace discovering the great work of a sinners reconciliation to God / by John Cotton ... ; whereunto are added Certain queries tending to accommodadation [sic] between the Presbyterian and Congregationall churches ; also a discussion of the civill magistrates power in matters of religion ; by the same author.
London: printed by M.S. for Francis Eglesfield and John Allen, 1655
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
if a man were to sit and tell money all day long, this is for my self (saith a man) and for my profit, and if it were for another, we should not think the time long, it may be, about that work neither: but (mind you) when it cometh to any thing which doth concern the Lord, then its so far above a mans reach, whatsoever we have to do in the things of God, that we should soon be weary of reaching forth our hands all the day long unto the Lord, and to be constantly for God, from God, and with God in all our actions; our base spirits are soon ready to be withdrawing from the Lord, therefore the Apostle biddeth us, Follow after peace and holiness without which &c. so that great is the necessity of holiness, and worthy to be followed after; for though a mans own heart, and the world, and men, and Satan withdraw us from it, yet follow after it; for without it no man shall see God; there is a kind of holiness which some men have attained unto many a fair day ago, but tis a thousand to one whether it be the holiness that doth accompany ⟨p. 145⟩salvation, for that holiness is not easily attained unto, but the other will easily cleave close unto a man. Now if you shall ask me,
if a man were to sit and tell money all day long, this is for my selfe (saith a man) and for my profit, and if it were for another, we should not thinke the time long, it may be, about that work neither: but (mind you) when it cometh to any thing which doth concerne the Lord, then its so sarre above a mans reach, whatsoever we have to doe in the things of God, that we should soone be weary of reaching forth our hands all the day long unto the Lord, and to be constantly for God, from God, and with God in all our actions; our base spirits are soone ready to be withdrawing from the Lord, therefore the Apostle biddeth us, Follow after peace and holines without which &c. so that great is the necessity of holines, and worthy to be followed after; for though a mans owne heart, and the world, and men, and Satan withdraw us from it, yet follow after it; for without it no man shall see God; there is a kinde of holines which some men have attained unto many a faire day agoe, but tis a thousand to one whether it be the holines that doth accompany ⟨p. 145⟩salvation, for that holines is not easily attained unto, but the other will easily cleave close unto a man. Now if you shall aske me,